The Witching Crown | Halloween Masquerade Mystery

The Witching Crown | Halloween Masquerade Mystery

A stolen crown. A murdered noble. A forgotten witch. Uncover Bellamorte's buried history before its oldest curse breaks free.

TYPE

One-Shot

LEVELS

2

LANGUAGE

English

EXPERIENCE

Open to all

AGE

18+
3 NEEDED TO START
$15.00

/ Session

Details

Once / Sunday - 12:00 AM UTC

Oct 18

Session Duration / 3.5–4 hours

0 / 5 Seats Filled

Report Adventure

Money Back Guarantee

StartPlaying Money Back Guarantee

If your game doesn't happen, we guarantee a refund. Just reach out to StartPlaying Support. Refund Policy

This game will begin once 3 players have joined
About the adventure

Once each year, the isolated city of Bellamorte celebrates the Night of Lanterns with masks, candlelight, and the ceremonial display of the Witching Crown—a relic said to have protected the city from the vengeance of the Witch Queen for three hundred years. Tonight, you're among the guests at Castle Bellamorte. At midnight, every light goes out. Something whispers your name in the darkness. When the candles return, a noble is dead, the Witching Crown is gone, and supernatural fog has sealed the castle from the outside world. Someone at the masquerade stole it. And finding the thief is only the beginning. Question suspicious guests, follow clues through a festival becoming increasingly haunted, and uncover the truth buried beneath three hundred years of Bellamorte's history. Before dawn, you may have to decide whether the city's oldest curse should be stopped—or finally allowed to break. No Daggerheart experience required. Pre-generated characters are available. Expect: 🔮 A gothic murder mystery during a candlelit Halloween masquerade Investigation 🔮 A haunted festival growing stranger and more dangerous throughout the night 🔮 Ghosts, curses, hidden histories, and morally complicated NPCs 🔮 Player choices that can dramatically change the ending

Meet the Game Master

4.9

(8)

LGBTQ+

4 years on StartPlaying

40 games hosted

Highly rated for: Inclusive, Beginner Friendly, Storytelling

Average response time: 3 hours

Response rate: 100%

About me

I’ve been GMing for about six years, mostly online, and I love running story-first games. I spend a lot of time with Star Trek Adventures and Vampire: the Masquerade (5e), and my focus is always on character, tone, and choices that actually matter. My style is roleplay-forward but flexible. I enjoy creating memorable NPCs, giving them distinct voices and personalities, and building longer story arcs that grow over time. I like to keep things immersive, but there’s always room for humor and table banter—this is still a game, after all. I’m especially comfortable running games for new players. I enjoy helping people learn the system, find their footing, and ease into roleplay at their own pace, without pressure to “perform” or already know everything. Players often mention the NPCs, voices, and visual details as standout parts of my games. I put a lot of care into making the world feel alive and giving everyone the tools to engage confidently.

View Profile →
Character creation

Creating your character

Play a Level 2 Daggerheart character using official options, or choose from pregenerated characters if you'd rather jump directly into play. Your character doesn't need to be from Bellamorte. Before the game, we'll establish why Duke Bellamorte invited or hired you to attend the Night of Lanterns. You'll also answer one question: Who is someone from your past you would desperately want to speak with one more time? Your answer may matter before the night is over.

What to expect

Preparing for the session

You’ll need: • A free Discord account for voice chat • A free Alchemy account to access the virtual table top (VTT) • A microphone and stable internet connection • Your Level 2 Daggerheart character, unless using a pregenerated character Please join the Discord and Alchemy before game day so any technical issues can be handled ahead of the session.

What Eric brings to the table

My games emphasize collaborative storytelling, character choices, mysteries that reward investigation, and encounters that can be approached in more than one way. For this game, expect: • A fully prepared Alchemy game with maps, tokens, handouts, and music • Rules support for players learning Daggerheart • A story designed specifically around Daggerheart’s Hope and Fear mechanics • Flexible spotlight-based combat rather than traditional initiative • NPCs with conflicting motives rather than obvious good and evil sides • Multiple possible resolutions to the central mystery • Opportunities for your character’s history and relationships to become part of the horror The adventure has a clear mystery and structure, but there is no required sequence of solutions and no predetermined ending.

Equipment needed to play

Internet

Computer

Microphone

Safety

How Eric creates a safe table

Player comfort and trust matter to me. Before play begins, we'll use Alchemy's safety tools share a Lines and Veils with the whole group so we can set boundaries together and make sure everyone knows what’s on the table—and what isn’t. We’ll use the X-Card during play, and it’s always available. It can be used digitally or verbally—whatever feels most comfortable in the moment. I’m also very open to other support tools if players have ones they prefer or have used successfully in the past. Aftercare is handled simply and respectfully. I make space after sessions for check-ins, and players are always welcome to reach out privately if something didn’t sit right or needs follow-up. The goal is a table where people feel safe exploring difficult themes because they know they’re supported.

Content warnings

Death
Murder
Language/Cursing
Violence

Safety tools used

Frequently asked questions